Salvia plant named ‘Eggben009’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘EGGBEN009’ is disclosed, characterized by a dense, bushy plant habit, strong peduncles, bright pink flowers a white eye. Flowers have a calyx moderately flushed with anothocyanin. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia gregii×microphylla.

Variety denomination: ‘EGGBEN009’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Howard Bentley, in Wonga Park, Victoria,Australia. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newSalvia varieties with denser plant habits, strong garden performance, ina range of flower colors. The controlled pollination resulting in thisnew variety was made during March and April of 2007.

The parent variety is Salvia gregii×microphylla ‘Eggben005’, U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 13/506,155. The parent variety wasself-pollinated to produce an F2 generation of seed. This seed wascollected, sown and grown outdoors under field conditions. The newvariety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in Octoberof 2009, at a research greenhouse in Wonga Park, Australia. Furtherobservations and evaluations were made throughout 2010 and 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN009’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed during 2011, at a research greenhouse inWonga Park, Australia. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type onsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EGGBEN009’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘EGGBEN009’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘EGGBEN009’ as a new and distinct Salviacultivar:

-   -   1. Bushy plant habit.    -   2. Bright pink flower color with white eye.    -   3. Sturdy inflorescence.    -   4. Dense plant habit.    -   5. Moderate anthocyanin coloration of calyx.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN009’ are similar to plants of theparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘EGGBEN009’ produce a somewhat bright and darker coloredflower than the parent variety. Additionally, the new variety typicallyproduces foliage with more prominent venation and undulation.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to the commercial varietySalvia gregii ‘RFD-S018’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,699. The two Salviavarieties are very similar in most horticultural characteristics,however, the new variety produces a flower with a white eye, and astronger and longer peduncle. Foliage differs as well; the new varietyhas foliage white is more crenate to serrate than ‘RFD-S018’.

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to the commercial varietySalvia gregii ‘James Compton’, unpatented. The two Salvia varieties arevery similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, the newvariety produces an inflorescence with more flowers. Foliage differs aswell; the new variety has foliage white is more crenate to serrate than‘James Compton’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘EGGBEN009’.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of ‘EGGBEN009’.

The plant was grown outdoors, in Wonga Park, Australia. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 50 weeks from an unrooted cutting. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘EGGBEN009’ plants grown outdoors in WongaPark, Australia. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 5° C.to 35° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia gregii×microphylla ‘EGGBEN009’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, bushy annual.-   Height: Approximately 50 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 70 cm    to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.-   Plant spread: Approximately 80 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free-branching, Approximately 8 to 10    primary branches.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 45 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 12 to 18.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 143.        -   Pubescence.—Minute pubescence.-   Internode length: Approximately 2.0 to 3.0 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 50 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 fully expanded per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 4.9 cm., including petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse to nearly truncate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate to crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte, minute, coarse pubescence.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, minute, coarse pubescence.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137D. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144B.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late    Summer.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on    spikes.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 1    week on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 7 weeks with    flowers.-   Quantity of flowers: About 6 to 10 buds and 4 to 8 fully opened    flowers per spike, at one time. Mature plants have approximately 20    to 30 spikes.-   Spike size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 10 cm.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Length: Approximately            3.0 cm.        -   Persistence.—Non-persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate, typical Salvia scent.-   Corolla: Petal arrangement: The corolla is sympetalous and typically    bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper lip and    3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip. Margin: Nearly    entire, slightly scalloped. Tip shape: Upper lip tip retuse, lower    lip tip rounded with scallops. Length: Upper lip Approximately 1.2    cm, lower lip Approximately 1.8 cm. Tube length Approximately    2.1 cm. Width: Upper lip Approximately 0.4 cm, lower lip    Approximately 2.6 cm. Tube width Approximately 0.8 cm. Texture:    Upper lip: Highly pubescent on exterior surface. Interior surface    glabrous. Lower lip: Glabrous all surfaces.    -   -   Color.—Upper Lip: When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 67C. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 70C.            Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 67C. Outer            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 70D, flushed 70B. Fading: Inner            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 67C. Outer surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 70D, Purple 77C.        -   Color.—Lower Lip: When opening: Inner surface: RHS            Red-Purple N74C, center eye white N155B. Outer surface: RHS            Red-Purple N74D, center eye white N155B. Fully opened: Inner            surface: RHS Red-Purple 70B, center eye white N155B. Outer            surface: RHS Red-Purple 70C, center eye white N155B. Fading:            Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D, center eye white            N155B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple 75A, center eye white            N155B.        -   Color.—Tube: When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple            75B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple 75A. Fully opened: Inner            surface: Near RHS Purple 75B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple            75B. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75C. Outer            surface: Near RHS Purple 75D.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 70B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube.        -   Unfused apex.—Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.5 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Immature: Near RHS Yellow-Green 148A,            flushed Greyed-Purple 186A. Mature: Near RHS Yellow-Green            148A, flushed Greyed-Purple 186B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 5.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 143B, flush near Greyed-Purple            186B.        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 186A.        -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 45 degree angle from            attachment.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.3, approximately 0.5 cm of            length fused to petal.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White N155B.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Very narrowly elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161B.        -   Pollen.—Scant colored near Yellow 4D.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White N155B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear, curled. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            186A. Ovary color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘EGGBEN009’ as herein illustrated and described.